VERMILLION, S.D. | The Grambling State University men's basketball team fell behind early and could not recover as the Tigers dropped an 84-55 decision to South Dakota on Saturday night at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
 
The Coyotes (3-1) used a 13-2 run to begin the game and didn't look back in handing Grambling State the road loss.
 
Bobby Jackson led the way for Grambling State (0-3) with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers. Kareem Wright tallied seven points, three steaks, two assists and one rebound in 18 minutes of action. Shirmane Thomas finished with five rebounds to lead the Tigers defensively.
 
Tyler Hagedorn paced South Dakota with 15 points, three blocks and two rebounds. Carlton Hurst tallied 10 points, on 5-of-6 shooting, while Tyler Peterson registered 10 points and three steals. Trey Burch-Manning led the way defensively with nine boards.
 
Turning Point
South Dakota raced out to a 6-0 lead to begin the game and extended the margin to 13-2 after a bucket by Burch-Manning with 15:21 remaining in the opening half.
 
The Coyotes continued to push the advantage in the first half as South Dakota led, 24-9 after a Nick Fuller layup with 11:19 left, but the Tigers cut the deficit to 31-22 after a Shirmane Thomas 3-pointer with 5:04 remaining.
 
South Dakota closed out the opening half on a 10-5 run to take a 41-27 advantage into the break. The Coyotes built a 56-31 advantage, off a 15-4 run, early in the second half and didn't look back.
 
Inside the Numbers
· Grambling State shot 32.7 percent (18-of-55) from the floor and 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the free-throw line.
· South Dakota was 28-of-51 (54.9 percent) shooting and 24-of-27 (88.9 percent) from the charity stripe.
· The Tigers registered 27 bench points, 18 points in the pain, 14 points off 16 South Dakota turnovers and six second-chance points.
· The Coyotes recorded 46 points in the paint, 39 bench points, 26 points off 19 Grambling State turnovers and 10 second-chance points.
· Grambling State finished with 30 rebounds, with 18 coming off the defensive end.
· South Dakota tallied 35 rebounds, including 28 off the defensive glass.
 
News & Notes
· The game was broadcasted live on ESPN3.
· The matchup was the first in the series as South Dakota now leads, 1-0.
· The Tigers completed the third of seven straight road games.
 
Up Next
Grambling State returns to action on Tuesday as the Tigers make the trip to Daytona Beach, Fla., to take on Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) member Bethune-Cookman. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
 
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